Electrical water-wheel governor



BEST AVAILABLE COP";

(NoModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. P. WETMORE.

ELECTRICAL WATER WHEEL GOVERNOR.

- 1-io 519,591. Patented May 8,1894.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

"(No-Model.)

E. P. WETMORE. ELECTRICAL WATER WHEEL GOVERNOR.

No.519,597. 4 Patented May 8, 1894.

Hill 5 wanna Wilgzsszs BEST AVAILABLE COP.

' UNITED STATES PATENT EARL PORTER OF HELENA, MONTANA.

sLaci'R' c L WATER-WHEEL oovsmvon.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 519,597, dated May 8, 1894;.

' Application filed January 16,1894. Serial n. 497.088. (Ho mod l To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I,"EA RL PORTER Wan MORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Helena, in the county of Lewis and Clarke and State of "Montana, have invented anew and useful Electrical Water-Wheel Governor, of which the following is 'a specification.

This invention relates to electrical water wheel governors; and it has-for its object to ance with this invention.

provide improved governing devices of this character which shall automatically operate to control the speed of a water wheel according to the load upon the dynamo or dynarnos in circuit with the governor, or more technically speaking, according to the variations in current strength or in the output of such dynamos.

The main object of the present invention, therefore, is to regulate the efiective supply of water to the water wheel or wheels through means of valves, gates or deflecting nozzles, which are directly controlled 'by the change in the output of electric energy from the dye,

names which'are operated b1 the water wheel or wheels, in order to admit or cut ed the supply of water in direct proportion to the increasement or decreascment of the load upon the electric'generators.

his well known, that where the fly ball or centrifugal governors, or differential speed governors, are used in connection with water wheels of the governor does not become effective until the speed of the water wheels is changed. This change of speed in the water wheels is directly caused by the change of load upon the dynanios, and this invention therefore prevents loss of time inelifecting the regulation, inasmuch as the. change of load upon the dynauios puts the governing devices herein described into practical operation. a

With these and other objects in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same con sists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:Figurr-s 1 isa diagrammatic plan view of an electrical water wheel governor constructed in accord- Fig. 2 is a detail elevation partly in section of electric clutches the vertical valve rod or shaft (1,, which is providedat an intermediate point with reversely disposed beveled gear wheels a, and carries at its upper end a hand wheel a", which is ordinarily employed for controlling the flow of water through the wheel by hand, but inthe present invention such rod controlled autoinatieally by the devices to he hereinafter described. 4

The shaft B, of the water wheel A, carries outside of the water wheel casing, any numher of belt pulleys b, depending upon the numher of electrical gen craters or dynamos driven by such water wheel, but as illustrated in Fig. l. of the drawings, two of said belt pulleys receive the dynamo belt-s b, which are belted to dynaruos C and C, of any type or construction, the dynamo i), being illustrated as a direct current dynamo, while the dyname C, is of the alternating type, and it is to be understood that any number of dynamos of any type may he employed. The direct current dynamo C, is connected in series, by the series circuit .i.-2 with a suitably arranged soleucid. l), while the alternatin dvnauio G, o thereof connect-ed in "cries with the solenoid D, by the seriesgcircnii; 3-4.

The solenoid l), is illustrated as being arranged directly above and in line with the solenoid D', and it wiilof course be understood that the specific character of. the windlog of said solenoids depends noon the fact whethereach is connected witlfcne or more dynamos and of the character of such dvnamos. Should one or more of the dynamos operated by the water wheel he of this pclyphase type, then the magnet I), would he included in series with the field circuit of the polyphase current dynamo, that is, the entire exciting current would pass through the magnet has the compound field winding enable the same to be connected directly across the terminals of the are or constant current dynamo. These changes in the wind ings will of course beyarie'd toaccommodate the apparatus to the difierent dynamos, but only to secure the same result in connection with such dynamos as those illustrated in the drawings, and the aligned solenoids or magnets D, and D, accom modate therein the sectional core plunger E. The sectional core plunger E, is made upof connecting magnetic metallic sections e, and non-magnetic metallic sections e, which form together a single continuous core plunger, but it will of course be understood that the-magnetic me- ,tallic portions e, of-the core, are adapted to move within the solenoids, so that motion will be given to the core plunger ineither direction, as such solenoidsbecome energized or deenergized. The core plunger E, has connected with the lower end thereof the adjusting spring F, adjustably connected at f, to asuit:

-able point of attachment, so that-the core plunger will always be returned to its normal inactive position after either or both of the solenoids have become inactive, and said core plunger is further provided at its lower extrernity with an off -standing stop arm f, which is adapted to come in contact with an ofii-standin g stop proj ection f which provides a limit to the downward movement of the plunger. As the said core plunger E, is moved in either direction according to the variation in the strength of either or both of the solenoids, as the load upon the dyuamos connected therewith increases or decreases, such core plunger is adapted to act as a circuit closer for the valve or gate operating devices to be described, and is provided ata suitable point above the upper'solenoid D, with a contact pin or roller G, which is electrically connectedby the wire 5, with one poleof a convenient source of electrical energy g, which may be a suitable series of batteries or a dynamo. The contact point'or roller G, carried by the solenoid-controlled c'ore plunger E, is adapted to play between the approximately parallel contact plates 9', and g, respectively. The contact plates g and g*, are mounted in substantially parallel planes and at an'angle on the sliding contact frame H. The sliding contact frame 11, is mounted to slide between the parallel guides or ways h, and has attached to one end the adjusting rope 71., which winds andunwinds on the grooved rope drum hhsecured on the valve rod a, while to the other end of the sliding frame ll, is attached one end of the weight rope h pwhich passes over a suitably arranged guide pulley h, and has BEST AVAILABLE COP.

attached to the free end a. weight 71 which serves to slide the contact framein one direction. The movement of the core plunger E,

is adapted to bring the contact pin or roller G, in contact with either of the plates g or 9 and complete a circuit through the external source of electrical energy g, and to provide for this, the contact plate is elect rical l yconnected by the wire 0, to one terminal 7, of a suitably arrauged solenoid 1, directly in a line with which, and opposite to, is arranged a duplicate solenoid I, one terminal 8, of which is connect ed by the wire 9, to the other contact plate g, while the adjacent terminals of these two solenoids I and I, are joined by the bridge wire 10, which has connected thereto the circuit return wire 11, leading to the other pole of the external source of electrical energy g, and thereby providing fora completion of the external-circuit through either of the magnets I and 1', according as the contact pin or roller G, is movedin contact with either of the contact plates g, or. gE-mounted on the sliding frame II. The aligned solenoids I and I, are adapted to control, in either direction, the movement of a horizontally moving core J,

the ends of which slide in the opposite solenoids, and within the open outer ends of the solenoids I, and I, are arranged the core adjusting springs i and i, which have one end thereof bearingo'n the extremities of the core J, and are of a tension which holds the said core to a normal inactive position. The horizontally moving core J, carries at a point between the inner adjacent ends-of the solenoids I and I, the parallel shifting lugs or tap.

petsj, which embrace a belt K, driven from one of the pulleys b,of the water wheel shaft, and passing, over a loose pulley k, mounted loosely'on'a suitably supported and arranged regulating shaft L, which carries at one end a pinion l, meshing with the lower one of the -wheels (7., and adapted to turn such wheel in a direction to close or cut olf the supply of water controlled by the rod (1. The shaft L,

carries at a point alongside of the intermediate loose pulley 7a, a fast pulley Z,onto which the belt is adapted to be moved by the mag, net shifting devices when the core J, is shifted in one direction. At the opposite side of the pulley hand loosely mounted on the shaft L, is the sleeve M, carrying at one end alongside of the loose pulley a belt wheel m, and at its opposite extremity a beveled gear wh'eel m, which meshes with the upper one of the beveled gear wheels a, and is adapted to turn the valveor gate regulating rod (t, in a direction to open the valve or gate of the water wheel.

The operation of the apparatus set up as just described is as follows:Assuming direct current and alternating dynamos C and C, are in operation from the water wheel A; a sudden increase of current load on the direct current d'ynamoC will energize the solenoid D, sniiicientl y, so as to move the (301:6 plunger E, upwar l,against the tension of the mass? spring F, and cause the contact pin or roller.

mediately increase the supply of water. 'As

soon as the valve rod or shaft (1, commences to turn, the adjusting rope h winds on the drum W, and draws the frame H, in one direction until such frame has inoved'sufiicieutly far to relieve the contact G, from the upper contact plate g;. The current is thus automatically broken so as to de-energize the mag-1 net I, and then the spring 11, immediately moves the. core J, into a normal position and shifts the belt K, back onto the loose pulley.

The two contact-strips'or plates g and g and i the drum h, are so adjusted that the valves .or gates are opened a proper amount to admit the required .water for the operation of the wheels when the contact G touches neither of such plates, and therefore the distance or space between such contact plates determines the sensitivencss of the governor or regulator. Itwill be obvious that similar increases on the load' of the alternator 0', would have a similareffect on the solenoid or magnet D', to secure the same regulation just described;

while, conversely, a decrease in the load of either dynamo would have the opposite effect, that is, to decrease the supply of water to the water wheel, in such case the sliding frame H, being moved properly in one direction by the weighted rope h While I have illustrated and described a belt shifting device which controls the separate gears engaging the gears on the valve rod or shaft,l preferablysnbstitute these devices by the clutch devices or clutch wheels driven by the belt K, and to the opposite ex-.

tremities of this sleeve are securedrthe metallic cup disks 0, inside of which are adapted to turn the magnet wheels P. -One of the magnet wheels P, is fastened to the shaft L',

and the other of such wheels is fastened to one end' of the sleeve M, in a similar manner to the mounting of the pulleys l and m. Both of said magnet wheels P, are sectional and each is provided with acircumferential series of projecting pole pieces Q, adapted to align with similar inwardly projecting pole projections q, formed on the. inner periphery BEST AVAILABLE cop:

of the cup disks. At one side of each magnot wheel and inside of the circle of the pole pieces such magnet wheels are provided with the coil recesses q in whichare placed the magnet coils R,secured in position by the cap plates r, having inner recessed edges 9'', forming-a portion of the coil recesses. The terminals of the magnet coils R, lead respectively to collecting and discharging rings S, S, arranged at one side of the said magnet wheels. The same-wire connections are employed in connection with the clutch wheels just described as in connection with the solenoids I and I, the wire 6 from the plate 9 leading to the collecting ring of one magnet wheel, the wire 9, from the plate g, leading to the collecting ring of the other magnet wheel, the bridge wire 10, connecting the discharging rings of both magnet wheels, and the return wire 11 connected to the bridge wire 10.-

When the circuit is closed by the moving contact G, in the manner already described with either one of the contact plates on the sliding frame, either one or the other of the magnet wheels is energized so that the poles thereof are alternately north and south, and

necessarily hold the pole projections q, mag-' netically attracted thereby, so that as the sleeve N, rotates, and turns the cup disks, the energized magnet wheel will be caused to revolve and turn the beveled gear wheel connected therewith, in a similar manner to,the belt shifting operation already described;

In connection with the belt shifting or clutch wheeLdevicesjust described, I may employ an ordinary centrifugal or fly-ball governor 'l, the shaft t, of which is geared with and driven from the water wheel shaft B,and,

the sliding collar t'g which is moved up and down by the balls, is provided with amoving contact arm U, corresponding to the contact G and connected by the dotted wire 5, with one pole of the generator g. The moving contact U,--is arranged to play between the separate contacts 14, corresponding to the plates g, and g and are connected by the "wires 6, and 9 with the same connections as the wires 6 and 9. The moving of the contact U, in contact with either one of the contacts u, so-

cures the same operation from the belt shift:

ing devices or clutch wheels as previously described. 4

Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing anyof the advantages of this invention, and at this-point attention is directed to the fact that in the foregoing description-I have shown and described the frame l-l, upon which thei' contact strips g and 9 are located and which is suitably controlled by the drum k rope and counterweight, for simplicity in explaining the operation of the apparatus, but ordinarily and preferably the contact strips g, and 9 would be arranged in the same relation 'to'each other upon a drum or cylindrical frame X, mounted di- 4 19,597 BEST AVAlLABLE COP rectly upon the shaft it, of the valve or gate mechanismas clearly shown in Fig. 4, of the drawings,therebyavoiding the use of the connecting devices.

l3 ieference to Fig.4, it will beseen that the-contact plates which are lettered G and G, to correspond withthose on the sliding frameH, are arranged spirally. on the cylin-' dricalfframe X, and are disposed parallel with each other soas. to correspond inevery particular' to the relative arrangement of the plates 9' and 9?, on the said sliding frame so that the same operation will be etfected as the contact pin or roller G, is moved against either of the plates by the core, plunger, or armature E. v The-same. circuit connections are observed in this preferable form of contact-device it being shown that the wire 5, is

connected to the contact G, the wire 6, to the contact plate G and the wire 9, 'to the plate G, and itis thought that the operation of this :construction will be readily apparent without further description.

Having thus described the invention, what is,claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent,'is

1. In anelectrical water wheel governor, the combination with the water wheel, the water'wheelvalve rod or shaft, and the dynamo driven by the water wheel; of electrically controlled gear devices connected with the valve rod or shaft, an automatically moving contact frame controlled by the movements of the valve rod or shaft and carrying spaced contact plates in circuit with said gear .devices,'a solenoid included inthe dynamo circuit, 'a core, plunger, or armature controlled a said gear devices, solenoids circuiferl with the .dynamos, a core, plunger or armature controlled by said solenoids and provided with a contact point or roller playing between the contact plates and also connected with said external source of electrical energy, b t tially as set forth.

3. In an electrical water wheel governor, the combination'with the water wheel'valve rod or shaft; of electric motor device geared to said shaft to turn the same in either direc tion and included ina circuit with an exter- 'nal source of electrical energy, an automatically turning frame or cylinder carrying spaced contact plates arranged at an angle and separately connected by wires with said motor devices, vand an automatically controlled-contact point or roller playingbetween said contact plates and electrically connected with a convenientexternal source of electrical energy, substantially as set forth.

- 4. In an apparatus of the class described,

devices, and an externalsource of electrical energy; of a prime mover valve shaft or rod geared to said gear devices, adrum or cylinder mounted. on said shaft or rod and turning therewith, and parallel contact plates secured spirally on said drum and adapted to have said moving contact play there-between, substantially as set forth.

5. In an electrical water wheel governor, the combination with the water wheel, its valve mechanism and the dynamo driven by the water wheel; of electrically controlled gear devices connected with the valve mechanism, spaced contact plates suitably arranged and controlled 'by' them'ovement of the valve mechanism shaft, a solenoid included in the dynamo circuit, acore, plunger, or armature,

controlled by said solenoid and having acontact moving between said contact plates, and an external source ofelectrical energy included in a circuit with said contact and the valve controlling devices, substantially as set. forth.

6. In an electrical water wheel governor, the combination with the water .wheel, its valve orgate-mechanism, electric motor devices geared with said valve or gate mechanism,

automatic circuit devices having a moving contact, and controlled by the dynamo's driven by the wheels; of suitably arranged solenoids'circuited separately with a. dynamo and energized and de-energized according to the fluctuations in current strength generated thereby, and a sectional core plunger, having magnetic metallic portions moving in each of the solenoids and connected to and controlling the movingcontact of the circuit closing device, substantially as set forth. the valve or regulating mechanism and in .circuit with'an external source of electrical enorgy, an automatically moving contact frame carrying spaced contact plates in circuit with 7. In an electrical water wheel governor, the combination with the'water wheel, its valve or gate mechanism and the dynamos driven thereby; of electric motor devices geared with said valve or gate mechanism and included in the circuit of the external source of. electrical energy, a drum' oricylindrical frame mounted on the shaft of the valve mechanism, parallel contact pl'atesmounted on said drum or frameand separately connected to reverse operating portions of said electric motor devices, electrically aligned solenoids circuited separately with the dynamos .driven by the water wheel, and acore plunger moving insaid aligned solenoids and having a'contact playing between-said contact plates and electrically connectedwith the external source of electrical energy, substantially as set forth.

8. In an electrical water wheel governor, the

combination with the'waterwheel valve rod water wheel valve rod' or 519m BEST AVAILABLE COP". 5

or shaft having reversely disposed gear wheels, separate shafts having gear-wheels meshing respectively with diiferent ones of the gears on the valve rod or shaft, electromagneticfclutches or clutch wheels mounted on said separate shafts, and electrically controlled circuit closing devices included in separate circuits with said clutches or wheels to energize the sameseparately, substantially as set forth.

9. In an electric water wheel governor, the

' verselydisposed gear wheels, a suitably arranged shaft carrying at one'end a gear wheel meshing with one of the wheels on the rod'or shaft, a shaft sleeve mounted on one end of said suitably arranged shaft and carrying on one end a gear wheel meshing with the other one of the wheels on the valve rod or shaft, magnet wheels mounted on said suitably arranged sha'ft and on one end of the shaft sleeve,-adrive sleeve mounted on said suiti ably arranged shaft and driven from the water wheel, metallic cup disks secured on the shaft having re-' ends of said drive sleeve and surrounding 25 the magnet wheels, electrically controlled circuit closing devices, and separatecircuitcom nections from the circuit closing devices to. each of the magnet wheels to energize the same separately, substantially as set forth. 10. In an apparatus of the classdescribed, the combination with the separate shafts; .of a metallic cup disk mounted on one of said shafts, a magnet wheel mounted on the other one of the shafts inside of the cup disk and 35 having a circumferential series of projecting vpole pieces and an energizing magnet coil clamped inside of the same and inside of the circle of the pole pieces, and suitable circuit connections with the magnet. coil,- substan- 4o tially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. 1 Y

i. EARL PORTER WE'IMORE.

. Witnesses:

H. S. HEPNER,

C. H. ALEXANDER. 

